If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
Ecstasy is from the contemplation of things vaster than the individual and imperfectly seen perhaps, by all those that still live.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ecstasy arises from contemplating greater things beyond ourselves, sometimes not fully understood by those still living.
In this quote, Yeats suggests that true ecstasy and deep fulfillment come from contemplating vast ideas or experiences that transcend individual existence. This contemplation allows individuals to connect with a greater reality, which can lead to a sense of joy and inspiration, even if that reality is not fully grasped by everyone. It's an invitation to look beyond the mundane and engage with the sublime, recognizing the beauty in the bigger picture of life.
Themes
EcstasyContemplationGreaterIndividualRealityJoy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a motivational speech about finding joy in life's larger meanings.
More from William Butler Yeats
All quotes βIt was my first meeting with a philosophy that confirmed my vague speculations and seemed at once logical and boundless.
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But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler YeatsRead
How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah, how old my heart.
William Butler YeatsRead
For he would be thinking of love Till the stars had run away And the shadows eaten the moon.
William Butler YeatsRead
Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.
William Butler YeatsRead
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